Folding umbrella.



No. 879,072. PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908.

- w. 0. WALLAR.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-17, 1906. k

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES.

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w. c. WALLAR.

FOLDING UMBRELLA. APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 1906.

2 SKEBTS-SHEEI 2.

FIE- 1- WITNESSES.

' INVENTOI? Y $5M ifiiia/v Cflllar BY THE umzms PETIRS cw. wnsumarau, v. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WILLARD O. WALLAR, OF BYESVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-TWELFTHS TO WILLARD MARPLE, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO, AND ONE-TWELFTH TO JAMES G. MORRIS AND ONE- TWELFTH TO HAYDEN B. PEARCE, BOTH OF BYESVILLE, OHIO.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1 1, 1908.

Application filed March 17, 1906. Serial No. 306567.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WI LARD O. WALLAR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Byesville, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Folding Umbrella, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to umbrellas.

The object of the invention is to produce an umbrella having a simple construction, which will permit it to be readily taken apart and folded for shipment or for packing in a traveling case or trunk.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation or side view of the umbrella frame, the cover being represented as removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation show ing the parts of the umbrella as disconnected, ready for packing; in this View certain parts are broken away so as to illustrate their construction. Fig. 3 is a section upon an enlarged scale passing through the crown of the umbrella. Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3 and illustrating the construction at the crown. Fig. 5 is a plan of the crown representing the same as disconnected and lying flat upon a surface. Fig. 6 is substantially a longitudinal section taken at the joint formed in the umbrella rod. Fig. 7 is a section through a part of one of the bows or ribs of the umbrella at the point where connection is had with the stretcher; in this view a stretcher is represented in dotted lines in the position it assumes when the umbrella is folded. Fig 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig.7 and looking in the direction. of the arrow. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the runner of the umbrella. Fig. 10 is a cross section of the runner on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, but upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the outer extremity or runner-end of a stretcher, and illustrating a hook which is adapted to engage a corresponding bow to hold the same closed, and Fig. 12 is a plan of the complete umbrella,

' to the frame.

' joint 4, to be described hereinafter.

illustrating the means for securing the. cover Fig. 12 is a perspective showing a detail of the manner in which the umbrella cover is attached to the frame.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1. represents the rod of the umbrella which is formed in sections 2 and 3 which are connected together by a joint 4 of the construction shown in Fig. 6. This construction will be described more fully hereinafter. To the extremity of the section 3 a suitable handle 5 is attached by means of a joint 6 which. is similar to the construction of the At the extremity of the rod section 2 remote from the handle 5, a crown 7 is formed. The construction of this crown and the manner of at- Fig. 3. Near the extremity of the rod section 2 at the crown, I form a collar 9, and on the face of this collar whichis disposedtoward the tip 8, I provide a spur 10, which projects longitudinally of the axis of the rod 1, as shown. The body of the crown 7 is formed by a sleeve 11, the construction of which is shown most clearly in Fig. 4. This sleeve is composed of a plurality of curved segments 12, the bodies of which are in the form of rectangular plates 13, slightly concave so as to conform to the curvature or cylindrical form of the rod. At their upper extremities as in dicated in Fig. 5, these segments 12 are provided with laterallyprojecting ears 1.4, which enable them to be jointed together by means of pins 15. From this arrangement it will be understood that the sleevell may be laid flat upon a surface, as indicated in Fig. 5. It should be understood, also, from this construction, that the sleeve 11 is adapted to be formed substantially into a circle, as illustrated in Fig. 4, so as to embrace or encircle a neck 16 which is formed at the extremity of the rod beyond the collar 9.

Referring especially to Fig. 4, ears 17 are attached to the end segments and are provided with openings 18. These ears 17 are adapted to be superposed upon each other taching the tip 8 is very clearly illustrated in so that the openings 18 therein will aline.

against rotation about the axis of the rod. With the sleeve applied as described, the tip 8 of the umbrella is screwed into the end of the rod section 2. For this purpose the tip 8 is provided with a threaded shank 19, as illustrated in 3; the rod of the umbrella is preferably of tubular form and threaded at its extremity, as will be readily understood. The inner extremity of the tip 8 is formed with a collar 20, which abuts against the ends of the plates 1.3 which compose the sleeve 1.1.. and prevents the sleeve from being removed from the rod. Near their lower extremities, as indicated in Fig. 3, the plates 13 are pro vided with laterally-projecting wings 21, and these wings project radially from the axis of the umbrella rod when the sleeve is passed about the rod, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4. To these wings 21 the umbrella bows or ribs 22 are attached pivotally by means of suitable pins 23. The bows or ribs 22 are formed in sections 24 and 25; sections 24, which are attached. to the sleeve 11, are, of tubular form, and the rib sections 25 are telescoped therewith and are adapted to slide with the same when the umbrella is folded in a manner which will be described more fully hereinafter.

I provide means for limiting the outer movement of these rib sections 25, which is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 7. For this purpose near the free extremity of the rib section 24 I provide an annular shoulder 26, which is formed by offsetting material inwardly, as indicated, and at the butt 27 of the rib sections 25 I provide a corresponding annular groove 28. hen the rib sections 25 are sufliciently extended, the shoulder 26 will engage the groove and lock the parts 25 against further extension. In order to give a desirable resiliency at this point, I prefer to provide the extremity of the rib sections 24 each with a longitudinal slot 29. Preferably at the ends of the rib sections 24 the same are provided with inwardly-projecting ears 30, to the outer side of which stretchers 31 are pivotally attached. The bodies of these stretchers may be of any suitable form and their outer extremities are offset and formed into forks 32 which attach respectively to the cars 30, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 7, the forks 32 are disposed in an inclined direction with respect to the bodies of the stretchers. As shown in Fig. 1, the bodies of the stretchers 31, when the umbrella is closed, lie close to and substantially parallel with the umbrella rib 1. At their extremitiesthey attach pivotally to a runner 33. The construction of this runner is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 9. It has a tubular body 34 which is of flexible material, such as light sheet metal. From this body ears 35 are struck outwardly so as to proj ect radially from the axis of the runner. To

these ears 35, the stretchers 31 attach pivotally, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The tubular body 34 is split longitudinally, as indicated at 36, and the edges of the material at this point are turned outwardly so as to form flanges 37, and near their outer edges these flanges are offset outwardly to form retaining lips .38. Beyond these retaining lips the flanges converge slightly, as indicated. These flanges do not extend throughout the entire length of the sleeve, and are cut away below, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 9. Near the lower extremity of the runner 33, in substantial alinement with the flanges 37, a latch 39 is pivotally attached as indicated at 40. This latch is adapted to rotate in a vertical plane on its pivot and presents a longitudinal eye 41 formed between oppositelydisposed bars 42. The upper or free extremity of the latch 39 is formed with an outward bend, and is provided with a stud 43 which projects inwardly toward the umbrella rod. The latch 39 affords means for locking the runner around the body of the rod 1, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10. In this connection it should be understood that the runner constitutes a split sleeve which may be opened out so as to encircle the rod and when the flanges 37 are brought together, the latch 39 may be forced over the lips 38, so as to hold the body of the runner closed, said lips affording means at the same time for retaining the latch in this position.

Referring especially to Fig. 11, I provide the extremities of the stretchers 31, adjacent to their point of attachment to the runner, each with a hook 44, which project outwardly or radially from the axis of the rod. These hooks are intended to engage the extremities of the bows or ribs 22 so as to hold the same close to the runner. In Fig. 1 the outer portions of the bows 22 are represented in dotted outlines so as to indicate their position when engaged as suggested.

The umbrella is to be raised and lowered in the usual manner by advancing the runner 33 on the rod toward the crown 7. At a suitable point on the rod section 2 I provide a recess 45, which is adapted to be engaged by the aforesaid stud 43 on the latch 39. In this connection it should be understood that the latch 39 affords means for resiliently pressing the stud 43 against the side of the rod when the latch is in the position as shown in Fig. 9. In the lower portion of the handle 2, openings 46, 46 are provided. The opening 46 receives the stud 43, enabling the latch 39 to lock the umbrella in a closed position.

In order to form the joint 4 referred to above, the rod section 2 is formed with a reduced shank 47 which is received in the extremity of the rod section 3, as illustrated in Fig. 6, a shoulder 48 being formed on the rod section 2, which abuts against the extremity of the rod section 3, as shown. At a suitable point, the side face of the shank 47 is provided with a longitudinal groove or recess 49 in which there is received a leaf spring 50, the free extremity whereof is provided with an outwardly-projecting button 51. When the joint is made as indicated in Fig. 6, this button is received in an opening 52 formed in the wall of the rod section 3 at a suitable point. Obviously, by forcing the rod sections 2 and 3 together as indicated, the button 51 will spring into position. so as to lock them together.

The joint 6 referred to above is similar in construction to the joint 4 just described, that is, the rod section 3 has a button 51" similar to the button 51, and this is received in the opening 46. The outer faces of the buttons 51 and 51 are flush with the outer face of the rod so that no obstruction is offered to the passing of the runner in raising or lowering the umbrella.

A cover 53 for the umbrella is attached to the extremities of the ribs 22 and at the crown 7, in the usual manner. This cover, however, is formed with over-lapping edges alining with a special rib 54, and sockets 55 are provided in the cover, which. snap over suitable buttons 55 provided on the rib, as indicated in Figs. 12 and 12 When the umbrella is opened or raised, the runner 33 is held by means of the latch 39 which engages recess 45 and the stretchers 31 operating to maintain the cover in the usual stretched condition. At this time the offset forks 32 are substantially against the inner sides of the ribs 22.

When the umbrella is to be folded up into a compact bundle, the tip 8 will be first unscrewed and the sleeve 11 will then be dis engaged from the spur 10. The runner 33, together with the other parts attached thereto, including the ribs, will be rotated on the axis of the rod and slid along thereupon until the stud 43 comes over the button 51 of the joint 4, whereupon by pressing upon the latch 39, the button 51 will be depressed sufliciently to enable the rod sections 2 and 3 to be disconnected. By a similar operation at the joint 6, the handle 5 may be disconnected. The sleeve 11 will then be opened out, as indicated in Fig. 5, so it will lie substantially upon a flat surface, and the latch 39 will be disconnected so as to enable the runner 33 to be removed from the rod. The sleeve 11 and the runner having been removed from the rod as suggested, and lying flat upon a surface such as the top of a table, the rib sections 25 will be forced inwardly into the interior of the rib sections 24. This having been accomplished, the stretchers 31 will be rotated in an upward direction so that each stretcher will fold down upon the outer or upper side of the rib section 24. In Fig. 7 one of these in its folded position. In this connection it should be understood that the forks 32 readily forbid the projecting extremity of the rib section 25 from obstructing the folding movement.

In folding the parts as described, the cover 53 of the umbrella will be unbuttoned and folded, as indicated in Fig. 2, where the parts are represented in folded relation. The rod sections 2 and 3 may be laid beside the folded frame, together with the handle and umbrella tip, all as shown in Fig. 2. These parts will then occupy a small space and can be conveniently wrapped into a small bundle or packed in a traveling case or trunk.

Especial attention is called to the cooperation which exists between the runner and the joints 4 and 6, enabling the said joints to be disconnected by means of the latch. 39.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an umbrella of the class described, in combination, a rod, a crown carried there by, a plurality of ribs jointed to said crown, a runner moving on said rod and adapted to be disengaged therefrom; and a plurality of stretchers connected with said runner and pivotally attached to said ribs, said ribs h aving extensible sections and said stretchers having forks at the point of attachment to said. ribs whereby they may be folded outwardly so as to lie against the outer side of said ribs.

2. In an umbrella of the class described, in combination, a rod, a removable, segmental sleeve attached to said rod, a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to said sleeve, a runner having a split body adapted to be disengaged from said rod, said ribs having tubular rib sections and extensible rib sectionstelescoping therein, and stretchers connected to said runner and having forks pivotally attached to said ribs.

3. In an umbrella of the class described, in combination, a rod, a removable segmental sleeve attached to said rod, a plurality of tubular rib sections pivotally attached to said sleeve, a plurality of stretchers pivotally attached to said tubular rib sections near the free extremities thereof, a runner having a split body adapted to be detached from said rod and pivotally attached to said stretchers, and extensible rib sections telescoping in said tubular rod sections, said stretchers having forks at their extremities which attach to said tubular rib sections.

4. In an umbrella of the class described,

in combination, a rod, a removable segmental stretchers is represented in dotted outlines body detachably mounted on said rod, and

stretchers connecting said runner with said ribs and adapted to fold outwardly upon said ribs.

5. In an umbrella of the class described, in combination, a rod having a collar formed near the extremity thereof, a removable, segmental sleeve engaging said collar, a removable split runner mounted on said rod, tubular rib sections pivoted to said sleeve, stretchers connected to said runner and pivotally attached to said tubular rib sections at the free extremities thereof, said stretchers having forks at the point of connection with said rib sections, and extensible rib sections telescoping in said tubular rib sections.

6. In an umbrella of the class described, in con'ibination, a rod having a collar formed thereon, one extremity of said collar having a spur projecting therefrom, a segmental sleeve having eyes at the extremity thereof engaging said spur to lock said sleeve around said rod, a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to said sleeve, said ribs having folding extensions, a split runner mounted on said rod and adapted to be detached therefrom, and a plurality of stretchers connected to said runner and having forks pivotally attached to said ribs.

7. In an umbrella of the class described, in combination, a rod having a collar near the extremity thereof, a jointed sleeve encircling said rod and engaging said collar, a tip removably attached to said rod and retaining said sleeve thereupon, a plurality of ribs attached to said sleeve, a runner detachably mounted on said rod, and a plurality of stretchers connected with said runner and having forks pivotally attached to said ribs,

said ribs having extensible sections project-- ing beyond the point of attachment with said stretchers.

8. In an umbrella of the class described, in combmation, a rod having a collar near the extremlty thereof, a removable ointed sleeve surrounding said rod at said collar and consisting of a plurality of pivotally connected segments, said segments having ears projecting laterally therefrom, .tubular rib sections pivotally attached to said cars, a split runner movably attached to said rod, a plurality of stretchers connected to said runner and having forks at their inner extremities pivotally attached to the extremities of the said tubular rib sections, and other rib sections telescoping within said tubular rib sections.

9. In an umbrella, in combination, a rod, a runner slidably mounted on said rod and having a split tubular body presenting laterally disposed longitudinal lips, a latch pivotally mounted on said runner and having an elongated eye adapted to engage over said lips, said lips affording means for retaining said latch thereupon, said latch having a laterallyprojecting stud and said rod having recesses adapted to receive said stud to lock said runner thereto.

10. In an umbrella, in combination, a rod, a plurality of ribs, a crown carried by said rod and attached to said ribs, a runner adapted to slide on said rod, and stretchers connecting said runner and said crown and having hooks projecting laterally therefrom adapted to engage said ribs to hold the umbrella in a closed condition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLARD W ALLAR. Vitnesses:

A. W. ARBUCKLE. Josnrn W. OLIVER. 

